B.C. cultural leaders meet with Dr. Bonnie Henry; the arts could start reopening gradually in May and June
The March 30 Arts Roundtable included Minister Melanie Mark and arts leaders from across the province
B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry met with members of B.C.s arts and culture sector on March 30.
On MARCH 30, leaders from B.C.’s arts and culture sector finally got what they had been hoping for for months: a meeting with Dr. Bonnie Henry to discuss reopening.
The hour-long gathering via Microsoft Teams also included the Honourable Melanie Mark, Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport and some of her staff members; Honourable Harry Bains, Minister of Labour; and 35 arts leaders from all over B.C.
While everything is fluid given the situation with COVID-19, variants, vaccines, and recent public-health restrictions, among the key points covered was the potential for a gradual allowance of “gatherings” for up to 50 people in May and June, according to BC Alliance for Arts + Culture executive director Brenda Leadlay’s April 2021 report, released March 31.
Gatherings may be possible this summer for ticketed outdoor events, the report states, while a return to gatherings indoors could happen progressively throughout the fall.
Large venues may be back to full capacity by the end of the calendar year. International touring will likely be the last thing to return.
“Dr. Henry explained the rationale behind the decision to keep our venues closed, but was optimistic that immunizations will have a significant effect over the next three weeks and that first doses will allow for a gradual reopening of performing arts venues,” Leadlay said. “Please keep in mind that none of this is written in stone, and depends on vaccinations, their efficacy and the continued rise of variants that may change everything.
“Although there are still many unanswered questions, now that we have established contact with Dr. Bonnie Henry and her staff at the PHO, we will continue to work with them on the plan for re-opening,” she noted. “We know that Dr. Henry is a passionate advocate for the arts, and her priority continues to be the threat of the COVID-19 virus. Bob D’Eith, Caucus Chair and Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film in the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport, will be undertaking meetings with the sector.”
Donna Spencer, artistic producer of the Firehall Arts Centre, was one of the cultural leaders present at the meeting. In an interview with Stir, she said the meeting was a positive first step toward reopening safely.
“I thought it was very positive,” Spencer said. “I feel that this is the beginning of a longer dialogue with public health….Nothing is definitive, but certainly there is the will to consider reopening of small…performances, particularly outdoors. And they’re hoping for May or June, and perhaps bigger ones in the summer.”
However, Spencer noted, there was no indication that arts venues would be restored to pre-pandemic operating capacity with international acts before 2022.
Spencer said Henry was the primary speaker during the meeting; arts leaders had the chance to submit questions in writing beforehand.
“She said she did understand the arts; she attends the arts in Victoria and appreciates what we’re doing,” Spencer said. With respect to the closures of theatres and cinemas that began with restrictions in November 2020 and that remain in place, Spencer said the impression she got was that the Public Health Office wasn’t intending to punish the arts sector but that it was encouraging people to stay home, particularly during the holiday season.
Spencer said that there’s still work to be done in conveying to the government how many organizations in the arts sector function as businesses, and that she hopes that the arts will no longer be classified as “events”. However, she said she’s hopeful that the meeting has opened the door to greater collaboration.
“I think I was more hopeful of it being a true dialogue, but I also felt a lot was learned yesterday,” Spencer said. “We need to keep this moving.”
A smaller group of cultural leaders, known as the Professional Performing Arts Venues and Cinemas Consortium, supported by several ASOs, will be meeting with Bob D’eith, Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film, in coming weeks.
Stir will continue to cover this story as it evolves.
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